Me and my friend are going to travel to Georgia in the end of March / beginning of April. Some questions regarding planning.

1. How do georgians call their country. Is it Georgia or Sakarthvelo. Are they insulted by the name Gruzia?
2. What to bring as a gift?
3. Will our mobile phones work in Kazbegi?
4. Is it ok to bargin about the prices or is it an insult for the locals?
5. Are there sheep heads lying around everywhere? :)

Regards,
Mirjam from Estonia

Hi Mirjam

1. A Georgian refers to himself as “Gruzin” while speaking Russian and to his country as “Gruzia”, as far as we have seen, nobody felt offenced by those names. In their own language the name of the country is “Sakharthvelo” and the people who live there are called “kharthvelebi”. But I haven’t really met anybody who would try to implement those names while speaking Russian or English.

2. Bring something traditional from your country as a gift. The Estonians usually bring their national drink “Vana Tallinn” and the Latvians their “Rigas Balsams” so you might want to be a bit more creative than that…

3. There is mobile coverage in most of the villages in Kazbegi, both GeoCell and Magti work. There was no coverage in Jutta until the autumn 2007, but we have heard that the situation has now changed there as well.

4. Bargaining mainly works at the market place. Usually there is no bargaining at the eating places. At the homestays—well I guess it is not the tradition, really.

5. Good question :) You might find some sheep heads lying around close to Tsminda Sameba church, specially around Mariamoba (28. august). It is a georgian tradition to feast with the whole family around the church at that time and of course sheep are envolved :)